We rely on the washer to clean all of our favorite clothes, but who’s responsible for cleaning your washer?
YOU are, that’s who. I learned the hard way.
Over the summer, my washer stopped spinning efficiently, making it impossible to get any laundry done because the clothes were soaking wet. At the time, Ryan’s acid reflux struggle was in full force and he was going through 3, 4 and 5 outfits a day so the laundry piled up even more quickly than normal.
Our washer was no longer under warranty, and the waiting period for a repairmen was over a week out. When the repairman finally arrived several days later, he spent about 15 minutes here blowing out a soap scum blockage in the line before he gave me some strange substance and instructed me on how to clean my washer. He didn’t even do all of the work for me and it still cost me $200.00!
Recently, I discovered a way to disinfect the laundry tub and dissolve that nasty soap scum before the blockage occurs, for a lot less than two hundred bucks. The best part about this how-to is that you likely have the ingredients in your own home.
Homemade Washer Cleanser
You will need: 2 cups white vinegar and 2 cups liquid bleach
Step 1: Fill the washer with HOT water. Add the vinegar and let soak for an hour before letting run a complete cycle.
Step 2: Fill again the same way, only this time add the bleach, soak and run the washer.
These steps should be performed once every few months to keep everything clean and sanitary.
originally published Mar 19, 2013
I’ve been wanting to clean my washing machine, but didnt know what to use. Thanks for sharing this tip.
I never really thought about cleaning my washer! Thanks for the tips.
I have a front loader too (side note but isn’t is strange how front loaders are all you can buy in the UK and when I think of a top loader I think of the old fashioned one my grandma owned!) Anyhoo… I usually just run a 90C wash with bio powder and an empty drum. I might give this a try though, I don’t think it would matter whether you put it in the dispenser or the drum but the dispenser gets pretty soap scummy and could use a clean too!
And the clothes washers are in the kitchen there right? That’s what my mom told me. I would try it in the soap dispenser, good point!
Great tip for keeping your washer clean and fresh! Thanks!
I love what hot water and vjnegar can do. That works for front load ones too.
I need to do this, Heather. I had no idea it was so easy. Thanks for the tips!
I have been buying the cleaning tablets, but I am going to try this recipe next week when it is time to do it again..
This is really good info to know, thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad I don’t have that type of washer anymore, but I NEVER cleaned out top loader when I did. Great diy on how to clean the washer!
I wonder if you could use the same method by putting the vinegar/bleach in the detergent holder.
I have a front loader so I have to use the special cleaning tabs. Or do I? Hmmmmm